Prehealth Reading List

Prehealth Recommended Readings and Podcasts

As you go through your Prehealth journey at Baylor, we encourage you to explore topics and learning outside of the classroom. Books and podcasts are a great way to do that! To help facilitate your continual learning, we have put together a list of books and podcasts that we think you may find interesting and beneficial. This is by no means an all-inclusive list, but it should help get you started!

Disclaimer: This list was compiled by Baylor Prehealth students and does not reflect the views of Baylor University or the Baylor Office of Prehealth Studies. 

Healthcare

Books:

1. The Patient Will See You Now by Eric Topol

2. The Finest Traditions of My Calling by Abraham Nussenbam

3. The Social Transformation of American Medicine by Paul Starr 

4. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

5. The Health Gap by Michael Marmot

6. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

7. Treatment Kind and Fair by Perri Klass

8. The Conversation by Angelo Volandes

9. Just Medicine: A Cure for Racial Inequality in American Medicine by Dayna Matthew

10. The Soul of Medicine: Tale from the Bedside by Sherwin Nuland 

11. America’s Bitter Pill by Steven Brill

Podcasts:

12. “Rethinking Medicine” by TED Radio Hour

13. “How Personalized Medicine Works” by Stuff You Should Know

Science

Books:

1. The Double Helix by James Watson

2. On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin

3. The Signature In the Cell by Stephen Meyer

4. Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism - Alvin Plantinga

5. The Mind-Gut Connection by Emeran Mayer

Podcasts:

6. “The Environment and Your Health with Jon Mitchell” by The Functional Medicine Radio Show with Dr. Carri*

Global Health

Books:

1. Pathologies of Power by Paul Farmer

2. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

3. Dicing with Death by Stephen Senn

4. The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates

5. The Gift of Pain by Paul Brand

6. A Call to Action by Jimmy Carter

7. Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

8. A Path Appears by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

9. In the Company of the Poor by Paul Farmer and Gustavo Gutierrez

10. An Imperfect Offering by Dr. James Orbinski

11. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

12. The Healing of America by TR Reid

Personal Health

Books:

1. Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

2. Spark! By John Ratey 

3. The Feeling Good Handbook by Dr. David Burns

4. Undo It! by Anne and Dean Ornish

Self Improvement

Books:

1. Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller

2. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

3. So Good they Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport

4. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

5. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

6. Atomic Habits by James Clear

7. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

8. Do Hard things by Alex Harris

9. A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

10. David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

11. CliftonStrengths for Students: Your Journey Begins Here by Tom Rath

12. Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry

13. NeuroFitness by Dr. Rahul Jandial

14. You are What You Love by James K.A. Smith 

15. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson

Social Issues 

Books:

1. Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance

2. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

3. The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton

4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas